Directional control of sanding



E. E. ugwm DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF SANDING Filed May 31, 1959 March 25, 1941.-

INVENTOR ELLS E. HEWlTT Wpqq II V ATTORN EY Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF SANDING Application May 31, 1939, Serial No. 276,543

13 Claims.

This invention relates to rail sanding devices, and more particularly to apparatus for controlling the operation of sanding equipment carried by a railway vehicle.

In order to insure adequate braking control of trains operated in modern high speed railway service, it is desirable to provide sanding devices on individual cars operable when an application of the brakes is effected to apply sand to the rails for preventing sliding of the car wheels. It has been proposed to mount sanding devices at each end of a vehicle beyond the wheels and to effect simultaneous operation thereof to apply sand to the rails, but with such an equipment the rear wheels must first travelthe length of the car wheel base before reaching the sand deposited by the forward sanding devices and previously overrun by the leading wheels. Such relatively inefficient sanding of the rear wheels of the car may have an appreciable eifect on the stopping distance, due to slipping of the wheel, if an emergency application of the brakes is initiated while the train is moving at high speed, particularly when individual anti-wheel-sliding apparatus is employed. There is, therefore, a need for quick and uniform sand application so as to correct a wheel slip condition before the Wheel speed is reduced to zero.

The principal object of my invention is to provide improved automatic apparatus providing directional control of sanding for a railway vehicle, comprising separate sand valve devices disposed on both sides of each wheel, and selector means operable according to the direction of movement of the car to render the leading sand valve device operative while preventing operation of the trailing sand valve device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention.

will be apparent in the following detailed description thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic, side elevational view, partly in section, of an improved rail sanding equipment constructed in accordance with one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view, partly in section, of the control portion of the equipment shown in Fig. l and indicated therein bythe line 2-2;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the directional selector device shown in Fig. 1, the device being represented in a different position; and- Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic and sectional view of a different form of a direction controlled sand ing equipment embodying the invention.

Embodiment shown in Fig. 1

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the equipment illustrated comprises a car wheel 5 adapted to roll on a rail 6, a car axle I to which the wheel is secured in the usual manner, a pair of fluid pressure operated sanding devices 8 and 9 carried by the car at opposite sides of the wheel, and a direction controlled selector mechanism which is indicated generally by the character III.

The fluid pressure operated sanding devices 8 and 9 are illustrated in the drawing in outline form only, but it will be understood that these devices may be identical in construction and of any suitable type operative, in response to the supply of fluid under pressure, to impel sand flowing from the usual hoppers through sanding conduits to the rail closely adjacent the wheel.

The selector valve device I8 comprises a casing I2, which, as shown in Fig. 2, has formed therein a valve chamber I3 containing a rotary valve I4. The rotary valve I4 is maintained in sliding engagement with its seat by suitable means, such as a coil spring I5 interposed between the wall vof the valve chamber and the valve, and is operatively connected to a shaft I6, which is rotatably mounted in a suitable bore formed in the casing and extending outwardly thereof. The outer end of the shaft I6 is keyed or otherwise secured to an actuating member or plate II, through the medium of which the rotary valve I4 is adapted to be turned from one position to the other in accordance with changes in thedirection of movement of the Vehicle Wheel, as hereinafter explained.

Referring again to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the actuating member I! has formed thereon two oppositely disposed stop lugs I8 and I9 which are adapted for engagement with stationary pins and 2|, respectively, for defining the two positions to which the actuating member is adapted to be moved. The pins 20 and 2i are mounted on the casing I2 above the actuating member I! and aresubstantially equally spaced from the vertical center line thereof. A stud 22 is mount- .ed on the casing I2 above the actuating member I1 and between the pins 20 and 2|, and constitutes a means'for anchoring the upper end of a coiled tension spring 23, .the lower end of which is secured to a stud 24 carried by the actuating member I'I below the shaft I6.

The stud 24 isdisposed on the actuating member substantially equidistant from the respective lugs I8 and I9, so that if the actuating memher is moved to its intermediate position the stud 24, shaft 16 and lug 22 will be disposed in vertical alignment while the spring 23 is stretched to a maximum degree, the spring and actuating member being then disposed in dead center position'. It will thus be apparent that if the actuating member I"! is tripped or moved beyond dead center position in either direction, the spring 23 will act to pull the actuating member I? either in a clockwise direction until the lug I8 is brought into engagement with the pin 2t, or in a counterclockwise direction until the lug I9 engages the pin 2|.

A pair of relatively offset, radially projecting lugs 21 and 28 are formed on the lower portion of the actuating member H, which lugs are spaced equally from the stud 24, but are disposed in different planes with respect to the actuating member, as is best shown in Fig. 2. An oscillating pawl is carried by the wheel and axle assembly for cooperating with either of the lugs 21 and 28 to throw or trip the actuating member I! from one position to the other, which pawl is rotatably mounted on a pin 3| that may be secured to the adjacent wheel, or, as shown in the drawing may be mounted on a member 32 secured to the axle I. The oscillating pawl 39 has an eccentrically disposed weighted portion 33 on each side of which are formed relatively offset ears 34 and 35, the ear 34 being disposed in coplanar alignment with the lug 21, and the ear '35 being similarly disposed with respect to the lug 28. The pin 3| is sufliciently spaced from the axle i to permit the eccentrically pivoted pawl 30 to be turned about the pin under the force of gravity when the vehicle wheel rotates slowly, for causing one of the ears 34 and 35 to engage the axle while the other ear is projected outwardly. It will thus be understood that each of the ears of the oscillating pawl 39 is adapted to be brought into operating engagement with the corresponding lug '21 or 28 of the actuating member, as determined by the direction of rotation of the vehicle wheel as hereinafter explained.

The vehicle carrying the rail sanding equipment is provided with a suitable source of fluid under pressure, which may comprise a reservoir 38 communicating by way of a supply pipe 39 with a port 40 in the seat of the rotary valve. For the purpose of illustration, a manually operable valve il is interposed in the supply pipe 3t for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure through the pipe.

With the selector valve device I!) positioned as shown in Fig. 1, the sanding equipment is conditioned to permit operation of the sanding device 8 while the vehicle is moved toward the left and the wheel is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. If it is desired to effect sanding of the rail, the valve 4| is operated to establish communication through which fluid under pressure is supplied from the reservoir 33 through the pipe 39, the port 40 in the casing 12, the cavity i5 in the rotary valve I4, and thence by way of a port and pipe 46 to the sanding device 8, which is thereby operated in the usual manner to deposit sand on the rail 6 in advance of the wheel,

When the operating member I! and associated rotary valve of the selector valve device is in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 and while the wheel 5 is revolving in .a counterclockwise direction as just explained, 'it'will be apparent that the oscillating pawl '30 is of course revolved with the wheel without having any effect upon the operating member, since the ear t loi' the pawl is offset with respect to the lug 23 of the operating member, while the other car 35 is adapted to ride over that lug if brought into contact with it. I

Let it now be assumed that movement of the vehicle toward the left is stopped, and that the vehicle is subsequently conditioned for moveto the right as viewed in the drawing. The wheel 5 consequently begins to revolve in a clockwise direction, and as the oscillating pawl is carried around with the wheel it is caused to turn on the pin 3i due to the efiect of the eccentrically arranged weighted portion 33 and thus eventually assumes the position in which the pawl is shown in Fig. 1, wherein the ear 34 thereof engages the axle l while the ear is extended outwardly. Upon engagement of the outer ear 35 with the lug 23 of the operating member l1, continued movement of the wheel and axle assembly causes the pawl to turn the operative member in a counterclockwise direction, carrying with it the shaft It and associated rotary valve until the stud 24 and toggle spring 23 are moved beyond dead center position, whereupon the spring effects further rotation of the operating member until the lug I9 is brought into engagement with the pin H. The operating member and rotary valve M are then disposed in the position illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. If it is desired to supply sand to the rail, the valve it is moved to open position for permitting flow of fluid under pressure from the reservoir 35; through the pipe 39, the port the cavity dd in the rotary valve I4, and through a port and pipe it to the sanding device 9, which is thereby operated to deliver sand to the rail in advance of the wheel 5.

The rail sanding equipment just described is thus adapted to operate mechanically to render the sanding device in advance of the vehicle wheel operable to supply sand to the rail, while the sanding device at the rear of the wheel is prevented from operating.

Embodiment shown in Fig. 4

A sanding equipment constructed in accordance with my invention may, if desired, be arranged to be controlled electrically by suitable means such as the car lighting system, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing. The wheel and axle assembly and sanding devices associated therewith are not shown in Fig. 4, but it will be understood that the pipes it and 48 areadapted to communicate with the usual sanding devices such as those shown in Fig. l. The equipment further comprises a magnet valve device 50 seleetively controlling supply of fluid under pressure from. the supply pipe 39 to pipes 46 and 48, an axle driven generator 5! having an automatic directional pole changer 52, a storage battery and a circuit control device 54. In addition,

the vehicle is equipped with suitable braking apparatus including a fluid pressure brake cylinder adapted to be supplied with fluid under pressure by way of a brake cylinder pipe 55, and having operatively associated therewith a fluid pressure switch device iii The generator 5!, circuit control device 54 and battery 53 are adapted to effect supply of current to the usual car lighting circuit, not shown, and are illustrated in diagrammatic form only. The generator 54 is operatively connected to one of the wheel and axle assemblies of the vehicle,

and comprises an armature 66 and field windings 6|. The armature winding is connected through suitable brushes and conductors 62 and 63 to a pair of contact elements 64 and 65, re-

spectively, which are in turn adapted for engagement by movable contact members 61 and 68 of the automatic pole changer 52. The pole changer 52 may be of any suitable type operative to reverse the poles of the armature winding 66 in response to each change in direction of rotation thereof.

The circuit control device 54 may be of the usual construction comprising switch means for cutting the generator out of the battery circuit during low speed operation, and means operative to control the generator output in accordance with speed to maintain constant current supply to the battery, and to reduce the current to the battery when it is fully charged.

The magnet valve device 56 comprises 2. casing having a chamber l6 communicating with the supply pipe 39 and containing a double seating valve element H adapted tobe moved in one direction by means of a spring 12 and. in the other direction by means of a magnet 13. The valve element TI is normally biased into its upper seated position by the force of the spring 12 for connecting the chamber 16 to the sanding pipe 46,

while cutting off communication to the pipe 48,

and is adapted to be shifted downwardly upon energization of the magnet 13 for establishing communication from the chamber 16 to the pipe 48 while closing the communication to the pipe 46.

The brake cylinder pipe 56 is adapted to be supplied with fluid under pressure in the usual manner for effecting an application of the brakes, and is connected to the atmosphere when the brakes are released. The switch device 51 comprises a casing having a chamber 15 communicating with the brake cylinder pipe 56 and having mounted therein a piston 16 that is connected by means of a rod 11 to a suitably insulated contact member 18. The contact member 18 is normally held in circuit opening position, as shown, by the force of a spring [9 acting against the piston 12, and is operative to bridge a pair of contact elements 86 upon a predetermined increase in the pressure of fluid in the chamber 15, as hereinafter explained. It will be understood that the chamber 15 may, if preferred, be connected to a straight air control pipe or other pipe of the usual air brake system adapted to be charged when an application of the brakes is initiated.

When the elements of the equipment are disposed in the position illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the sanding apparatus is conditioned for operation upon an application of the brakes to permit flow of fluid under pressure from the supply pipe 39 through the chamber 16 and sanding pipe 46 to the corresponding sanding device connected thereto, as may best be understood by reference to the circuit for the generator and battery 53.

Assuming that the armature 66 is at this time rotated in such a direction as to render the conductor 63 positive, the circuit includes the conductor 63, the contact element 65a, the movable contact member 61, suitable conductors within the circuit control device 54 connected to the positive terminal of the battery 53, the negative terminal of which is connected to a conductor 85, return conductors within the device 54, the contact members 68 and 64, and the conchamber 15 of the switch device 51 for causing the piston 16 to move the contact member 18 into engagement with the contact members 86, the

magnet 13 of the magnet valve device 56 will nevertheless remain deenergized, inasmuch as one end of the magnet winding is connected through a conductor 88 to the negative conductor 62 associated with the generator armature, while the other end of the winding is connected through a conductor 69, the contact members 86 and 18, and a conductor 96 to the negative terminal of the battery 53, so that appreciable current can not flow through the magnet winding.

As the magnet 13 of the magnet valve device 56 thus remains deenergized even after an application of the brakes has been effected, with the vehicle moving in the direction conditioning the generator circuit as just described, the spring 12 remains effective to hold the valve member H in its upper seated position. If fluid under pressure is now supplied by way of the supply pipe 39 in the usual manner, as hereinbefore explained, the flow of fluid under pressure will be directed through the valve chamber 16 and sandin'g pipe 46 to the sanding device in advance of the vehicle wheel, while the other sanding device associated with the wheel and communicating with the sanding pipe 48 is isolated.

It will now be assumed that the vehicle is operated in the opposite direction, and that the axle driven armature 66 of the generator is consequently reversed while the pole changer 52 is automatically shifted so as to establish contact between the contact member 61 and element 64 and between the contact member 68 and element 65. It will be apparent that, although the direction of flow of current through the armature winding 66 is reversed, the pole changer 52 is adapted to establish a correspondingly different circuit through which generator current is supplied in the proper direction for charging the battery 53 in the manner hereinbefore explained, which circuit includes the armature 66, the now positive conductor 62, contact element 64, contact member 61, the control device 54, battery 53, conductor 85, the return conductors within the device 54, contact member 66, contact element 65 and the negative conductor 63 leading to the armature.

Assuming that an application of the brakes is effected so that the contact member 18 of the switch device 51 is operated to bridge the contact elements 86, an additional circuit is established for energizing the magnet 13, which circuit includes the armature 66, conductor 62, conductor 88, the magnet, conductor 89, the switch contact elements, conductors 66 and 85, the control device 54, contact member 68, element 65, and the negative conductor 63 of the armature. With the magnet 13 thus energized, the valve member H is moved to its lower seated position against the pressure of the spring 12, thereby establishing communication from the supply pipe 39 through the valve chamber 16 to the sanding pipe 48 while cutting oiT communication to the sanding pipe 46. The supply of fluid under pressure to the supply pipe 39 will consequently effect operation of the sanding device to which the pipe 48 is connected, which sanding device is at this time disposed in advance of the wheel.

When the brakes are released in the usual manner, the switch device 51 becomes operative to move the contact member 18 out'of engagement with the contact elements 80 for breaking the circuit for the magnet 13, which is thus not energized while the sanding equipment is inoperative.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the invention as embodied in the form shown and illustrated in Fig. 4 provides electroresponsive means for depositing sand in advance of a vehicle wheel regardless of the direction of movement thereof, which electroresponsive means is adapted to be controlled through the medium of the car lighting system or other electric circuits governed in accordance with direction of movement of the vehicle.

While two illustrative embodiments of my invention have been described in detail, it is not my intention to limit the invention to those embodiments or otherwise than by the terms of the :appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure .by Letters Patent, is:

1. A rail sanding equipment adapted for association with a vehicle wheel, comprising a pair of fluid pressure operated sanding devices disposed at diametrically opposite sides of the wheel, selector valve means controlling a communication through which fluid under pressure may be supplied to either of said sanding devices while the other sanding device is isolated, and directional control means automatically operative in accordance with the direction of movement of the vehicle wheel for operating said valve means to establish said communication to the sanding device in advance of the wheel.

2. A sanding equipment adapted to be associaited with a vehicle wheel and axle assembly, comprising at least two fluid pressure responsive sanding devices operative to deposit sand at either peripheral side of the wheel, a supply source normally charged with fluid under pressure, supply valve means for controlling a communication through which fluid under pressure may flow from said source to either of said sanding devices, and directional control valve means inter-posed in said communication between the supply valve and said devices and selectively operative, in respons-ewto the rotation of the wheel and axle assembly, to establish communication from said supply valve to the sanding device in advance of the wheel while cutting ofi communication to the rear sanding device.

3. A sanding equipment adapted to be associated with a vehicle wheel and axle assembly, comprising at least two fluid pressure sanding devices operative to deposit sand at either peripheral side of a wheel, a source of supply of fluid under pressure, selector valve means having different positions for providing separate communications through which fluid under pressure can flow from said source to one or the other of said sanding devices, and directional control means cooperative with the wheel and axle assembly for positioning said valve means according to the direction of movement of said assembly.

4. A sanding equipment adapted to .be associiated with a vehicle wheel and axle assembly, comprising at least two fluid pressure sanding devices operative to deposit sand at either peripheral side of a wheel, a source of supply of fluid under pressure, selector valve means having different positions for providing separate communications through which fluid under pressure can flow "from said source to one or the other of said sanding devices, and spring-biased directional control means actuated by the wheel and axle assembly for positioning said valve means according to the direction of movement of the assembly.

5. A sanding equipment adapted to be associated with a vehicle wheel and axle assembly, comprising at least two fluid pressure sanding devices operative to deposit sand at either peripheral side of a wheel, a source of supply of fluid under pressure, selector valve means having different positions for providing separate communications through which fluid under pressure can flow from said source to one or the other of said sanding devices, a toggle mechanism operatively connected to said valve means and including a pair of spaced operating lugs, and an oscillating pawl mounted on the wheel and axle assembly in operative alignment with said toggle mechanism, said pawl having oppositely projecting ends each of which is adapted to engage one of the lugs of said toggle mechanism, said pawl being thus constructed and arranged to cause movement of said valve means to a new position when the direction of rotation of the wheel and axle assembly is reversed for thereby always rendering operable thesanding device in advance of the wheel.

6.. A sanding equipment adapted to be associated with a vehicle wheel and axle assembly, comprising at least two fluid pressure sanding devices operative to deposit sand at either peripheral side of a wheel, a source of supply of fluid under pressure, selector valve means having different positions for providing separate-- communications through which fluid under pressure can flow from said source to one or the other of said sanding devices, and electrically operated means responsive to changes in the direction of rotation of said wheel and axle assembly for so positioning said valve means as always to render operable the sanding device in advance of the wheel.

7. A sanding equipment adapted to be associated with a vehicle wheel and axle assembly, comprising at least two fluid pressure sanding devices operative to deposit sand at either peripheral side of a wheel, a source of supply of fluid under pressure, selector valve means having different positions for providing separate communications through which fluid under pressure can flow from said source to one or the other of said sanding devices, an electric generator driven with the vehicle and having a directional pole changer, and magnet means in circuit therewith and adapted to be energized or deenergized according to changes in generator polarity for so positioning said valve means as always to render operable the sanding device in advance of the Wheel.

8. A rail sanding equipment for a vehicle of the class having wheel and axle assemblies, and a power apparatus including a storage battery and an. axle driven generator therefor having a directional pole changer: said sanding equipment comprising at least two fluid pressure responsive sanding devices operative to deposit sand at either peripheral side of the wheel, a source of supply of fluid under pressure, and magnet valve means operative according to energization thereof to establish communication from said source to one or other of said sanding devices, said magnet valve device being arranged for energization by power apparatus in accordance with operation of the pol-e changer.

9. An automatic rail sanding equipment for railway vehicle having a wheel and axle assembly, comprising at least two fluid pressure responsive sanding devices operative todeposit sand at either peripheral side of the wheel a source of supply of fluid under pressure, magnet operated selector valve means operative according to energization thereof to establish communication from said source to one or the other of said sanding devices, and means providing an electric circuit for controlling energization of said magnet valve device in accordance with the direction of movement of the vehicle.

10. An automatic rail sanding equipment for a railway vehicle having a wheel and axle assembly and braking apparatus therefor, comprising at least two fluid pressure responsive sanding devices operative to deposit sand at either peripheral side of the wheel, a source of supply of fluid under pressure, magnet operated selector valve means operative according to energization thereof to establish communication from said source to one or the other of said sanding devices, means providing an electric circuit for controlling energization of said magnet valve device in accordance with the direction of movement of the vehicle, and switch means operative while the brakes are released for preventing closing of said circuit.

11. A sanding equipment adapted to be associated with a vehicle wheel and axle assembly, comprising at least two fluid pressure sanding devices operative to deposit sand at either peripheral side of a wheel, a source of supply of fluid under pressure, selector valve means having different positions for providing separate communications through which fluid under pressure can flow from said source to one or the other of said sanding devices, actuating means for moving said valve means from one position to the other, and directional control means operative .by said wheel and axle assembly according to the direction of rotation thereof to efiect corresponding operation of said actuating means.

12. A sanding equipment adapted to be associated with a vehicle wheel and axle assembly, comprising at least two fluid pressure sanding devices operative to deposit sand at either peripheral side of a wheel, a source of supply of fluid under pressure, selector valve means having different positions for providing separate communications through which fluid under pressure can flow from said source to one or the other of said sanding devices, valve actuating means constructed and arranged to shift said valve means from one position to the other and to maintain said valve means in the selected position, and directional control means cooperative with said wheel and axle assembly and said valve actuating means for efiecting operation of the valve actuating means corresponding with the direction of rotation of said wheel and axle assembly.

13. A sanding equipment adapted to be associated with a vehicle wheel and axle assembly, comprising at least two fluid pressure sanding devices operative to deposit sand at either peripheral side of a wheel, a source of supply of fluid under pressure, a casing, selector valve means mounted in said casing and having different positions for providing separate communications through which fluid un-der pressure can flow from said source to one or the other of said sanding devices, an actuator element operatively connected to said valve means and rotatable over a dead center position to opposite positions corresponding to said positions of the valve means, a toggle spring having one end connected to said casing and the other end connected to said actuator element, said spring being arranged to pull said element away from its dead center position toward either of said opposite positions, and tripping means carried by the wheel and axle assembly for effecting movement of said actuator element past said dead center position in accordance with each change in the direction of rotation of said assembly.

ELLIS E. HEWITT. 

